MEGHAN MACLAREN LEADS WORLD No 15 BY EIGHT

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Ranked No 57 in the WAGR, British women's amateur stroke play champion Meghan MacLaren from Wellingborough would seem to be a near-certainty for the GB and I team for the Vagliano Trophy match against the Continent of Europe at Malone Golf Club, Belfast on June 26-27. 

However, "near" has been the operative word as far as the Florida International third-year student and selection for GB and I teams has been concerned.

This should be the year that Meghan (pictured) makes the big GB and I breakthrough at long last and she is underlining her claims at the moment by leading the JU Amelia Island Collegiate 54-hole tournament at Amelia Golf Club by EIGHT strokes with an 11-under-par tally of 133.

One round to go and MacLaren, daughter of David, a European Tour executive and Mary, an Irish senior international seems of the verge of yet another US women's college circuit victory - and she has had quite a few already.

The cynics might dismiss this latest performance by saying the opposition is weak - but that is a totally wrong assumption. Lying second on 141 is Tiffany Chan (Daytona State College), who is No 15 in the WAGR.

Further down the field at Fernandina Beach, Florida are Megan Garland (Arkansas State) from Goole (72-74 for 146), Paige Kemp (Stetson) from Essec (73-76 for 149) and Eilidh Watson (Stetson) from Dollar (86-82 for 168).